Midnight Bayou

I love all the Nora Roberts books, and this story is excellent, it has romance intertwined with rejuvenating an old mansion, while an old murder mystery comes to life to be solved. I love when Nora puts paranormal and ghosts/haunted houses etc. into her stories, it makes them so much fun to read..and pulls you into the story and the characters. I'd highly recommend this book.

Great book going until near the end. Disappointed that Lena wasn't properly proposed to in the end and he never even gave her the ring he picked out for her that was supposed to be so important. Disappointing conclusion after a good read. Didn't care for the reincarnation either. Spoiled the story for me, but up until that part it was a great book.

Interests: Mystery Romance, New Orleans, Renovations, Ghosts
Warning: Assault Scene

Quick Summary
Boston lawyer, Declan Fitzgerald, has come to New Orleans to make a change in his life -- he's left his job, moved across country, and is now renovating an old southern home. Though he expects some challenges, he doesn't expect his new house to be haunted. And when he meets bar owner, Lena Simone, he's in for even more of a challenge. Lena is used to getting her way with men but Declan isn't like the usual men she's used to and she can't figure out his stubborn determination to be with her. But as they grow closer, and the hauntings grow stronger, they'll have to learn to love and uncover a centuries old mystery to bring peace to Manet Hall.

What I Liked
I first read this one over 10 years ago and have gotten around to reading it again and I'm very happy I did so. In typical Nora Roberts fashion, this story was a great romance, with witty banter, spicy characters and little bit of mystery thrown in. I really loved Declan -- Roberts really knows how to write a hero! He may be from Boston but he had all the charm of a southern gentleman and certainly knew how to hold his own with the fiery Lena. I aways enjoy Robert's attention to detail and how she can create such an amazing atmosphere in her books. I really felt like I was in New Orleans, enjoying the wonderful cajun flavor. I also really liked the little haunting twist Roberts included in this one since it was different than what you would usually come across in a romance story. I really appreciated the unique way Roberts handled this.

What Needs Work
This book was very heavily about Declan -- his connection the Manet Hall, his renovation of it, his struggle in a new environment, and his love of Lena. Because of this I felt like Declan was his solid presence and Lena was just rotating around him. We rarely get scenes with just Lena alone going about her day and work. Because of this, she felt a bit one-dimensional in the grand scheme of the story.

Midnight Bayou is a wonderful mixture of two stories that connect in a beautiful and at times spooky way. I have read this books many times since it came out originally. I usually take a while between readings, so it is like reading it for the first time every time and I have to say it kinda freaks me out a bit every time...lol.. BUT I am a self-admitted chicken.

Declan Fitzgerald has always felt a strong pull towards the old Manet Hall, and now he has finally changed his life by buying it and moving from Boston to New Orleans to renovate it himself. From his first night in the house he begins to see he isn't alone in the Hall, and some of the ghosts aren't too happy that he has moved in. He keeps having episodes where he sleepwalks to certain parts of the house including the old nursery on the third floor which he can't bring himself to enter. On top of that he keeps having dreams of things that happened in the house which he figures out when he sees pictures of the original family.

Angelina "Lena" Simone grew up just down the bayou from Manet Hall, and she has a family connection to the dark past of the hall. From the moment Declan sees her in her French Quarter bar, he feels an instant connection in his heart to her. He just has to get past all her walls and past pain to win her love, and not only do they have those hurdles the ghosts of his house don't want them together either.

This book is so much more than a good ghost story. The weaving of this tale is one that is both shocking and beautiful. Nora Roberts's books always grab me, but this is one of those that hold a special place in my heart. I have recommended this book to more peeps over the years than I can count. Some peeps have watched the Lifetime movie, but I have to say I treat it as one of those movies that just so happens to have a similar story line because this book is sooo beyond what that movie was. When you get to the parts where the past and the present come together, and Declan and Lena "go through" all that happened in the past. I can't even begin to say how shockingly wonderful that is. My only complaint and it isn't even a big one is that when Nora did her research for this one she used mostly "real French" instead of getting someone to help her with the Cajun French. As a Cajun that is just a small pet peeve, but I look past that in this one. I can't recommend this one to you guys enough!

4.75 Stars

I read this as an unabridged audiobook which is usually an advantage for me but I may have been better off reading the paperback because I wasn't thrilled with the male narrator who reads the bulk of the book. His voice kept putting me off and kept me at a distance from the story or maybe I should face the fact that the romance just wasn't that great?

The prologue details some nasty business featuring rape, murder and madness that went down in the 1800's. Just when it had my full attention it leaps forward to 2002 and loses me a bit.

Declan Fitzgerald is 31 and a successful attorney but his heart isn't in it and he decides to trek across country and purchase a Louisiana mansion with the intent of fixing it up even though he's no carpenter. Yes folks, this is the mansion where the nasty stuff happened. It is soon revealed that Declan had basically left a fiancee at the altar a few months earlier and the thought occurs to me that he's running away from life which doesn't exactly win me over. Almost immediately he starts seeing visions and hearing a baby crying and this intrigues instead of frightens him because, as we're told over and over again, he feels like he is finally exactly where he belongs.

His love interest is local bar owner Angelina (call me Lina because I'm no Angel) whose grandmother lives near Declan's property. Lina is independent but soon swoons when Declan is near and begins to help him unravel the secrets of the mansion. She's gorgeous and a good business woman but she was just a bit too distant for me for a large portion of the book. The reasons why were revealed way too late because at that point I had nearly tuned her out.

I found the ghostly aspects of this story much more compelling than the modern day romance. It was all rather by the numbers and "meh" without much emotional connection and the love scenes were a snore. The flashbacks to the past were much more interesting to me and I found myself wishing on more than one occasion that the entire book was set in the past. As the story continues events are revealed to tie in the current day couple to past but it all seemed a little off to me. Not my favorite by Robert's but not the worst book I've ever read either.

I thought "Midnight Bayou" was fantastic. I could not put it down and finished it in less than a day. Honestly, I can't understand how the people who gave mediocre or negative reviews of this book can have been reading the same book. This book has shot straight to the top of my list of Nora Roberts favorites - it is SO good.
I found the story completely and utterly captivating. Declan Fitzgerald has been obsessed with Manet Hall in New Orleans for 11 years. When he hears it has come up for sale, he buys it right away and leaves his job, fiancé, and family behind in Boston to move in and restore the hall to its former grandeur. Declan soon discovers that he is not alone in Manet Hall, as several ghostly presences make themselves known. Declan has strange visions and feelings of complete terror associated with certain rooms. Declan also meets Lena Simone, a stunningly beautiful, and fiercely independent bar owner. The attraction is instant and mutual. But there's something more than that, a kind of recognition deep inside. The relationship that develops betweeen these two was wonderfully written and very real.
The flashbacks to the past, and the story of the doomed love of Abigail and Lucian, are a wonderful and heartbreaking addition to this story. The history adds to the main storyline, rather than confusing it or detracting from it. Some of these sections had me in tears.
The supporting characters are all wonderfully written. For example, Miss Odette, Lena's grandmother is a lovable and colourful character. And Lilibeth, Lena's mother, is so vile and amoral she makes your skin crawl.
But it's the story of Lena and Declan that kept me turning pages. In order for these two to find happiness with each other, they must uncover the horrible events that took place a hundred years ago and come to terms with them. Until they do that there is no chance for Declan and Lena, but what they uncover may tear them apart!
I could go on forever about how much I love this book, but instead of doing that I'll simply suggest that you read it yourself, you won't be disappointed!

I read this as an unabridged audiobook which is usually an advantage for me but I may have been better off reading the paperback because I wasn't thrilled with the male narrator who reads the bulk of the book. His voice kept putting me off and kept me at a distance from the story or maybe I should face the fact that the romance just wasn't that great?

The prologue details some nasty business featuring rape, murder and madness that went down in the 1800's. Just when it had my full attention it leaps forward to 2002 and loses me a bit.

Declan Fitzgerald is 31 and a successful attorney but his heart isn't in it and he decides to trek across country and purchase a Louisiana mansion with the intent of fixing it up even though he's no carpenter. Yes folks, this is the mansion where the nasty stuff happened. It is soon revealed that Declan had basically left a fiancee at the altar a few months earlier and the thought occurs to me that he's running away from life which doesn't exactly win me over. Almost immediately he starts seeing visions and hearing a baby crying and this intrigues instead of frightens him because, as we're told over and over again, he feels like he is finally exactly where he belongs.

His love interest is local bar owner Angelina (call me Lina because I'm no Angel) whose grandmother lives near Declan's property. Lina is independent but soon swoons when Declan is near and begins to help him unravel the secrets of the mansion. She's gorgeous and a good business woman but she was just a bit too distant for me for a large portion of the book. The reasons why were revealed way too late because at that point I had nearly tuned her out.

I found the ghostly aspects of this story much more compelling than the modern day romance. It was all rather by the numbers and "meh" without much emotional connection and the love scenes were a snore. The flashbacks to the past were much more interesting to me and I found myself wishing on more than one occasion that the entire book was set in the past. As the story continues events are revealed to tie in the current day couple to past but it all seemed a little off to me. Not my favorite by Robert's but not the worst book I've ever read either.

I thought "Midnight Bayou" was fantastic. I could not put it down and finished it in less than a day. Honestly, I can't understand how the people who gave mediocre or negative reviews of this book can have been reading the same book. This book has shot straight to the top of my list of Nora Roberts favorites - it is SO good.
I found the story completely and utterly captivating. Declan Fitzgerald has been obsessed with Manet Hall in New Orleans for 11 years. When he hears it has come up for sale, he buys it right away and leaves his job, fiancé, and family behind in Boston to move in and restore the hall to its former grandeur. Declan soon discovers that he is not alone in Manet Hall, as several ghostly presences make themselves known. Declan has strange visions and feelings of complete terror associated with certain rooms. Declan also meets Lena Simone, a stunningly beautiful, and fiercely independent bar owner. The attraction is instant and mutual. But there's something more than that, a kind of recognition deep inside. The relationship that develops betweeen these two was wonderfully written and very real.
The flashbacks to the past, and the story of the doomed love of Abigail and Lucian, are a wonderful and heartbreaking addition to this story. The history adds to the main storyline, rather than confusing it or detracting from it. Some of these sections had me in tears.
The supporting characters are all wonderfully written. For example, Miss Odette, Lena's grandmother is a lovable and colourful character. And Lilibeth, Lena's mother, is so vile and amoral she makes your skin crawl.
But it's the story of Lena and Declan that kept me turning pages. In order for these two to find happiness with each other, they must uncover the horrible events that took place a hundred years ago and come to terms with them. Until they do that there is no chance for Declan and Lena, but what they uncover may tear them apart!
I could go on forever about how much I love this book, but instead of doing that I'll simply suggest that you read it yourself, you won't be disappointed!

Gorgeous Bostonian Declan Fitzgerald has had it--with his life, his love, his career. So he leaves his prestigious law firm, calls off the impending nuptials, pulls up stakes and settles into an old Louisiana plantation house, just outside of New Orleans. He first saw the house when he and best friend Remy broke into it, in a drunken stupor. But he wasn't too drunk to be taken with the house, and since then has harbored a desire to restore it to its original splendor; so when he heard that old Manet Hall was for sale, it seemed the perfect time for a life change. Who cares if the old place is rumored to be haunted? He could use a little excitement--especially that of the extraordinary variety. What he doesn't count on is falling in love...but that is exactly what happens to Dec when he lays eyes on the gorgeous Angelina Simone. Together, they explore the past and the future of Manet Hall; there is no denying the paranormal events, which seem to escalate as Dec sets about restoring the old house. Doors slam, a baby crys, frigid air moves about, and an overwhelming feeling of grief and anger abide. It doesn't take long for Declan to uncover the history of the house...and the love story behind it all. And in no time at all, Dec and Lena discover their own role in this saga...both past and present.

Never one to disappoint, Ms. Roberts delivers a tale of passionate love, hatred and jealousy wrapped in a haunting, suspenseful, ghost story. Wonderful, wonderful read.

DYB

When Declan Fitzgerald moves from Boston to New Orleans it is to escape a life he never felt comfortable in, and a woman he nearly married - for all the wrong reasons. Now he has fallen in love again, this time with a mouldering old mansion in New Orleans.

With loving care and determination he sets about bringing the old building back to life, and with it he discovers there are ghosts from the past, and they are revisiting him in life as well as he has fallen for Lena, a local woman from the wrong side of the tracks with links to the building's past.

I have to say I was fairly disappointed with this book. It is fairly standard romance wise - millionaire man, good with his hands, young gorgeous, confident - yet tender, and so on and so on. I just felt he had no real challenge in this - it was all plot device.

The supernatural device was a bit freaky at times too - at one stage Declan starts channeling a childbirth - rather disconcerting all round for me.

There were some great one liners in this and some genuine humour, so I will give some other Nora Robert's books a try, but it normally wouldn't bother me to try an author again after reading one book like this. I am sure just this can't be indicative of the rest of her work, becuase frankly I was disappointed. It was an average romance, light, fluffy but nothing special.

Declan Fitzgerald has left behind a promising career as a lawyer, not to mention his family, to buy a mansion on the outskirts of New Orleans. Ever since he first saw it as a teenager, Manet Hall has been in his heart. What is it about the abandoned house that pulls him to it? And will the rumors of ghosts and unexplained phenomena scare Declan away from his dream home?
When he meets his beautiful neighbor, Angelina Simone, Declan once again feels an inexplicable pull. But as Declan begins to settle into his new life, and starts to fall in love with the mysterious Angelina, secrets from the past threaten to destroy his newfound happiness.
This was my first book by Nora Roberts, and wow - I'm thrilled! Now I finally understand what it is that pulls millions of women to the bookstore every time one of Nora's books is released. MIDNIGHT BAYOU is fabulously written, in a flowing style that's neither overly descriptive, nor over-the-top, but manages to balance beautiful descriptions with realistic dialogue.
But the true charm of the book lies in its paranormal aspects. The ghosts that haunt Manet Hall aren't your typical otherworldly creatures, and as the storyline unravels, Declan and Angelina get more and more caught up in the mysteries of the past. Beautifully blending theories of reincarnation with pure paranormal fun, Nora Roberts manages to create a captivating novel that is sure to delight old fans and new.

The story starts out by telling of the tragedy that happened at Manet Hall in 1899, then skips to the present day. This happens throughout the book, which I liked.

Declan and Lena (Angelina) are the main characters in this story. They are brought together to set the tragic events of the past straight and lay some spirits to rest. Declan is a very likable character. He was humorous, fun, loving, and determined. Lena was a very strong female in this book, and at first I admired that about her, but after a while it seemed a bit much. At times she just plain got on my nerves. However, the story was well put together and I enjoyed it.

Although I enjoyed Declan and Lena's story, I would've loved to have seen Nora Roberts write a book about the backstory before she wrote Midnight Bayou. Why? The backstory of Lucian and Abigail was interesting and I believe it would've made a wonderful book even with the tragic ending.

All in all, I did enjoy this book and would recommend it.

Book Hollow
[...]

Ms. Roberts' latest, in a long line of best-sellers, is sure to be a hit-how can it miss with romance, a haunted plantation house, and a tale of long-ago murder and betrayal.
Declan Fitzgerald is bored with his life in Boston. Having recently broken it off with his fiancé, he decides to ditch his law career and purchase Manet Hall, an old plantation home near New Orleans. He first visited there when he and his college buddy, Remy, entered the dilapidated mansion years ago. Employing his woodworking skills, Declan starts renovation of the mansion.
Not long after he moves in, strange things begin to happen. Doors slam, clocks chime, and a baby cries. With the help of Miss Odette, a neighbor in the bayou, and research in history books, Declan is able to discover that the house has a dark history. Near the turn of the century, Abigail, a young Cajun servant, married Lucian Manet, heir to the estate. Their life together is cut short, when, shortly after the birth of their child, Abigail is discovered missing, and matriarch Josephine implements the rumor that Abigail ran off with a man who later killed her. Brokenhearted, Lucian "accidentally" drowns, and his twin, Julian, also dies young.
When Declan meets Lena, descendant of Abby's daughter Marie Rose, and granddaughter of Odette, he is completely mesmerized. She is the owner of a New Orleans bar and everything he ever wanted in a woman-she's smart, tough, and beautiful. Although the attraction is mutual, Lena guards her heart, as she senses that her feelings for Declan could lead to heartache.
Even as the reader is treated to glimpses of the 1899 Manet Hall, Declan begins dreaming of it. Cleverly interspersed with present day events is Declan's ability to feel and sense Abby's distress as he dreams of long-forgotten times. Lena, too, has eerie dreams and encounters of the past, and in an unusual twist, she senses Lucian's thoughts of old. As Declan and Lena face their desire for one another, will fate intervene a second time, and separate the lovers forever?
Ms. Roberts' latest is a sure-fire winner. The mysteries of the bayou abound as the ghosts tell the tales of forgotten times. Hauntings seem to increase as the renovations progress, and emotions between Declan and Lena hit an all-time high. Some readers may have trouble with the idea of reincarnation, especially with Abby living in Declan, and Lucian in Lena. However, the wonderful flow of the narrative, rich with fascinating characters, definitely outweighs any aversion to a twist on the paranormal.

Declan Fitzgerald his given up his life as a lawyer to rebuild a dilapidated mansion in New Orleans, but what he doesn't know is that this house has a life of it's own, and a story to tell.
Once he moves in and begins his repairs, Declan will start to hear voices, feel a strange presence in the rooms, doors and windows will open and shut, and a baby's cries will be heard in the nursery. Can the long hours put in while doing the renovation be taking it's toll on him, or is there some truth to the local rumors of the house being haunted?
The further the renovations come along, the stronger the strange occurrences are, and soon Declan begins to feel terror and grief for a crime committed a century ago.
With no one else to turn to, Declan opens up to his beautiful neighbor Lena Simone, for she is the one person he can trust, as she too has a strange connection to the house.
As the couple become deeper involved they are faced with the battle of uncovering a dark secret, before either of them can think about a future together.
`Midnight Bayou' is a well told story, and the haunted mansion is a great setting, but the plot abandons it's suspenseful roots to become an overly dramatic romance. Where the ghost theme could have been a nice touch, it's actually a gimmick in a sappy romantic plot twist. Fans of Nora Roberts's thrillers will be disappointed, as it appears she is heading back to writing romance novels, and while she remains a good storyteller, she hasn't written a straight ahead THRILLER since `River's End'.
Even though it's not a bad novel, `Midnight Bayou' is not one I would recommend to many people, unless they were looking for a paranormal romance.
Nick Gonnella

Midnight Bayou is a cross between a romantic novel and a story revolving around the supernatural. Nora Roberts does well to keep things moving along without overloading us on the hauntings, thus creating an enjoyable story.

Roberts lays the groundwork for this novel beginning with a scene from 1899. Abigail is awaiting the arrival of her husband, Lucien, in their home, Manet Hall. Abigail was a lowly servant who fell madly in love with one of the sons of the owner. Lucien reciprocates her love much to his mother's chagrin. Instead of this being a fairy tale romance, his evil twin, Julian, intercedes. He brutally rapes and kills Abigail. Since his mother never liked Abigail, she assists Julian in cleaning up the murder scene and helps him dump her body into the bayou so as not to be found. They concoct a story of her running off with a lover, which breaks Lucien's heart.

Switch back to current times and we find Declan Fitzgerald buying Manet Hall, which has fallen into disrepair. He begins restoring the old mansion and encounters the bizarre. Things like a room on the third floor that he cannot enter because fear overwhelms him. Or his watch which always stops at midnight, while the chimes of a non-existent grandfather clock sound. Or a crying baby who sounds like he's on the third floor, which is vacant.

Enter Angelina Simone (Lena), the granddaughter of Miss Odette who lives next door to Manet Hall. Lena has always been drawn to Manet Hall ever since she was a little girl. Of course this being a romance, Lena and Declan fall madly in love while they try to unravel the strange happenings surrounding them.

Character development is excellent and Roberts delves into Declan and Lena with her usual style, leaving little to the imagination. Also, we are given insight into Abigail and Lucien and we're led to believe that they could be Declan and Lena in previous lives. Ok, so it's a bit weird, but nothing is out of reach when Nora Roberts is at the helm. A support cast rounds is also well developed and intriguing in their own rights.

Roberts doesn't overdo the hauntings or supernatural stuff to the point that it deters from the story line or characters. If anything it enhances the reader's enjoyment. She uses the right mix of romance and supernatural to attract a greater reading audience.

Midnight Bayou is very different than Roberts other works, but still achieves the excellent standards we've come to expect. It's a great book and should be added to your Must Read list.

Whether ghosts were the intrigue or just played a part, I thought this was one of Roberts' best works. The characters were very relatable, the setting rich enough to pull the imagination and the story involving enough to keep the pages turning effortlessly. It is written with the kind of intensity that characterizes her Ardmore series, which I consider the pinnacle of her body of work. The talent that brings a reader into the place and circumstance is fully on display, and I've added the Louisiana bayou to my list of places to explore right along with the Irish coast.

I really like novels written from a male point of view (mine is!); I like to see how the man changes through the story/conflict, and this book did not disappoint where that is concerned. Lena was a little too stereotypical for me, and the romance felt a little...stilted.

I don't usually get into paranormal stuff or reincarnation but this wasn't too far out and the relationship issues were good enough that I was willing to overlook any residual hesitation I had about the multiple (and extremely coincidental) reincarnations.

The history of Lucian and Abigail was so good it almost overtook the rest of the story (and probably would have been a good story on its own). I really liked the twist (and didn't see it coming) that Declan's former incarnation was of the opposite sex - nice touch!

My biggest complaint is that there are so many points of view in the story - it can sometimes be confusing and also got in the way of me getting to know the characters, which is what really hooks me as a reader.